Sask. retail sales up in December 2016: StatsCan

The latest retail numbers are out from Statistics Canada and they show a jump in sales for Saskatchewan.

At 1.2 per cent, or $1.58 million in sales, the increase was more than any other province.

Only two provinces — Saskatchewan and Alberta — saw an increase from November to December 2016.

“Retail sales are a major contributor to our gross domestic product, and growth in this area is a positive indicator for our economy,” Economy Minister Jeremy Harrison said in a news release.

“Consumer demand and confidence with increased retail activity positively impact business performance, which in turn helps strengthen the economy.”

All other provinces saw a slump in retail sales in that timeframe, with Ontario reporting the largest decrease in dollar terms.

Statistics Canada noted Saskatchewan and Alberta saw retail sales climbing primarily due to bigger sales at gas stations. It also pointed to the decline of new car sales as the reason for a decrease for provinces like Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.

Overall in Canada, retail sales fell 0.5 per cent in December 2016. That followed four consecutive months of increases.

According to the province, Saskatchewan has the sixth highest grown among provinces – up by 3.5 per cent year-over-year.